Nagrota: National Conference senior leader Devender Singh Rana on Monday said his party has always kept infrastructural growth top on its agenda, asserting that peoples' yearning for development cannot be held hostage to emotive sloganeering.

"The past six years stand testimony to the initiatives taken by NC led government to put Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh on developmental track and accomplishing the projects within set time-frame so that fruits of development reach the targeted segments," Rana said.

Rana, who is contesting from Nagrota as NC candidate, told election rallies that people of Jammu and Kashmir deserved a better deal and that is what the National Conference strived for.

"The dedicated efforts and sincerity of purpose shown by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made things moving towards right direction which did not go well with those who found their political standing getting eroded. Nevertheless, the NC pursued its people-friendly agenda of enhancing quality of life in terms of upgrading facilities and undertaking development," he said.

"This will remain our guiding philosophy as ever before," he said.

In this context, Rana referred to the longing of Nagrota people who refused to get swayed by "rhetoric or emotive exploitation" and remained steadfast in their pursuit for development.

"With a sense of confidence, the people of Nagrota were now looking for a big opening, as a satellite township, which will not meet their aspirations alone but provide much needed space to those who stand for growth of the capital city as Greater Jammu," he said.

The NC Provincial President exhorted the people to retain the spirit which motivated them to lead their constituency to progress and development.